How to hire a news photojournalist

How to hire a news photojournalist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step news photojournalist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a news photojournalist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new news photojournalist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the news photojournalist you need to hire. Certain news photojournalist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a news photojournalist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a news photojournalist that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of news photojournalist salaries for various roles:

   Type of News Photojournalist	Description	Hourly rate
   News Photojournalist	Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally. They report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.	$15-48
   Anchor	A news anchor is a journalist who informs the public through reports of events and news stories. News anchors educate the public about the world, local, and national events... Show more	$19-57
   Correspondent	A Correspondent is the backbone of every news agency today. It is through the correspondent experts write the news of a particular topic... Show more	$24-64

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Edit Video
   • Newsgathering
   • News Coverage
   • Assignment Desk
   • Live Shots
   • VO
   • HD
   • SNG
   • Feature Stories
   • Camera Equipment
   • Sony
   • Edit News Stories
   • News Events
   • Live Truck

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate AP NEWSCENTER/ENPS and manage CNN feed services.
   • Execute the editing of unformat news footage with the nonlinear Edius system.
   • Work with HD equipment and also fill-in studio camera operator and fill-in video editor for newscasts.
   • Serve as photojournalist, editor and researcher of general and investigative news.
   • Produce a weekly editorial column and additional content for publication ;.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your news photojournalist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A news photojournalist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, news photojournalists' average salary in hawaii is 55% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level news photojournalists earn 67% less than senior-level news photojournalists.
   • Certifications. A news photojournalist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a news photojournalist's salary.

   Average news photojournalist salary

   $58,137yearly

   $27.95 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level news photojournalist salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 10, 2026

4. Writing a news photojournalist job description

   A good news photojournalist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a news photojournalist job description:

   News photojournalist job description example

   WUSA9, the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C. is seeking a photojournalist who is passionate about great storytelling, chasing breaking news and eager to edit short & long-form pieces with a team of great reporters. If you are a self-starter that can tell stories on your own or with a reporter and at the same time…create different and compelling content on all platforms including broadcast, digital and social media. You are proficient and familiar with the latest technology and tools for news gathering, live shots and story / show editing. Come join our team of storytellers and work along with some of the best photojournalists, multi-skilled reporters and editors in the country!
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Meet daily and short-term deadlines when covering news, spot news, sports, weather and feature stories.
   * Shoot reporter live shots and edit short and long-form packages for daily evening newscasts and for future air dates
   * Shoot and edit stories about various topics for air on future days.
   * Conduct interviews when necessary.
   * Be a voice. Attend editorial meetings and bring story ideas to the table.
   
   Job Requirements:
   
   Requirements:
   
   * Journalism or communications degree preferred.
   * 3-5 years experience as a news photojournalist and editor required.
   * Language skills (especially Spanish) preferred.
   * Knowledge of and experience with non-linear editing required.
   * Knowledge of and experience with newsgathering cameras, lights, audio and other equipment required.
   * Operate an ENG truck or 4G live unit (Dejero) when assigned.
   * Knowledge of EDIUS, Adobe Premiere or any Non-Linear base editing system preferred.
   * Organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time pressure deadlines.
   * Must be flexible with schedule including shift changes / weekends / holidays and dependable and reliable.
   * Member and active participant in NPPA a plus.
   * Current valid driver license required.
   * Travel: Rarely: less than 10%
   * Work Environment Set: Outdoors: performed in various outdoor environmental conditions
   * Physical Demands Set: Medium work: Involves standing prolong hours, stooping, bending, lifting/pushing up to 25 lbs.
   
   About TEGNA
   
   TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 63 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA's OTT advertising service. For more information, visit
   
   URL blocked - click to apply
   
   .
   
   TEGNA requires all employees to be fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC) against the coronavirus.
   
   EEO statement:
   
   TEGNA Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are a drug free, EEO employer committed to a diverse workforce. We encourage and consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, disability, enrollment in college or vocational school, political affiliation, veteran status or genetic information. TEGNA complies with all applicable laws related to accommodations.
   
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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right news photojournalist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your news photojournalist job on Zippia to find and recruit news photojournalist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit news photojournalists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new news photojournalist

   Once you've decided on a perfect news photojournalist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new news photojournalist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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